Since Gimli was accounted a "stripling," he wasn't allowed to fight. I'm sure that in extreme conditions, for example, the Battle of Azanulbizar, exceptions were made to that rule, and anyone who could pick up a weapon was allowed to fight. Dain was accounted a "stripling" when he killed Azog, but in times of relative peace, that rule was enforced. Besides, if it had been a battle, then Gimli would have had his kin around him to kind of watch over him, but on the Quest, it would have been a much smaller number.
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But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.
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